Optimist International has been attempting to make the awarding of scholarships as fair as posstible across all districts. However, these rules cause our district to struggle on how best to follow the International rules without putting our District's scholarship monies at risk, and at the same time give every contestant in Indiana South an equal chance. Although change is sometimes painful, it is after all necessary, to keep the Oratorical Contest alive in Indiana South. Let me share a few highlights:

* There is no minimum for contests at the club level. A club can have a contest of 1 person.

* Optimist Members may judge at the club level.

* Only one winner of each gender may move on to the next level. (Sorry, if you have only girls for instance, you may not move the top 2 girls on.)

* There must be at least 3 contestants of each gender at any contests above the club level. This last "rule" has been a struggle for the Indiana South District. We have some zones which do not have enough clubs who participate, or do not have at least 3 of one gender or the other. Last year we chose to eliminate Zone contest for those zones who could not reach the minimum requirements. However, we received feedback that this was not fair for those contestants who had to compete an extra time to make Regional. So, after much hand-wringing and many discussions, we decided to do away with all zone contests. What this means is that we will have 3 regional contests in early April. The location of each regional, and the clubs participating in each, will be decided after we have identified the clubs planning contests in an attempt to make these contests as fair as possible. Because we will not be having zone contests, the deadline for finishing the club level contests is March 14th. What I do ask is that each of you let me know by February 28th whether you will be having a club level contest. This knowledge will assist us in identifying the best division of contestants for the regional contests. One of the things I want to encourage all clubs to do is to have a contest -- whether you have one participant or 10. One of the most discouraging things I have witnessed is a contestant who has never given his or her speech in public to have to compete with kids who have come through several levels of competition. Please, please, please - even if you only have one contestant, have a contest and critique your participant. We have a lot to share with our youth and you would not believe how much of a difference it makes and the confidence they gain, when they get the feedback, pointers and encouragement!!

If you have any questions -- and I'm sure there's lots of concerns -- please feel free to contact Kathy Underwood Indiana South District Oratorical Chair

And please, let the Indiana South District Oratorical Chair know as soon as possible if your club will be participating in the Oratorical contest.

Yours in Optimism,

Kathy Underwood Indiana South District Oratorical Chair

Last modified: 12/19/07